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Have your say on council’s core offer

PEOPLE in East Sussex are being asked to give their views on a council’s plan for the future of services amid the continuing difficult financial climate.

East Sussex County Council’s ‘core offer’, which was considered by Cabinet on Tuesday, November 13 2018, outlines what it calls the ‘basic but decent’ level of service residents should be entitled to expect in the years to come.

The council is asking people for their views on the core offer, the impact the proposals will have on them, which services they believe should be a priority for future years and what they think is the best way of bridging the financial gap.

The core offer outlines potential reductions in services which would deliver significant savings over the next three years, but would still leave a funding gap of up to £33 million.

At the same time, the council pledges to work with partners and communities to make the most of the assets and resources in East Sussex and to provide value for money.

Cllr Keith Glazier, county council leader, said: “The core offer sets out an ambitious but realistic plan to help us continue to deliver quality, value-for-money services where they’re most needed.

“It is not a budget paper and we will go through the usual budget setting process in due course, but it will form the basis of our planning for the years ahead.

“It will also enable us to more clearly articulate to the Government the reasonable level of services we think residents should be entitled to expect and the level of funding we need to deliver them.

“I’d strongly encourage residents to give us their views on whether they agree with our approach and priorities and how they think we should address the continuing financial challenges.”

While the core offer outlines some reductions to services, the council would continue to provide key services such as highways maintenance, support for older people and vulnerable adults and safeguarding children at risk.

The council, which has already saved £129 million so far this decade, is calling for a fairer funding settlement from Government which takes into account the make-up of the county, including its high proportion of older people and low business rates income